The change of season can be difficult for some people living with dementia, but meaningful music can help
Decreased sunlight can also increase anxiety and confusion for someone living with dementia but listening to some familiar tunes can help create a feeling of calm.
Playing personally meaningful music, or songs that usually get you up dancing can spark joy, get you dancing and keep you or the person you are caring for active.
Want to get started on a personal playlist for you or someone you know?
Get started with our playlist maker for Spotify here:
A free independent advocacy service has been launched to support families who have lost loved ones in prison custody.
Advocacy workers will offer practical and emotional support that is trauma-informed and tailored to the needs of each family. This will include helping bereaved families to understand and navigate the processes that can follow a death in custody, including fatal accident inquiries.
The service, provided by independent advocacy organisation AdvoCard, was developed with input from those who have experienced such a loss.
Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “Every death in custody is a tragedy, and my thoughts are with the families affected. Keeping people safe in our prisons continues to be a top priority.
“For families who have lost a loved one in prison custody, shock and grief can be compounded by the investigations, legal processes and inquiries that follow. These can be complex and distressing, and no one should have to face them alone.
“This new free independent advocacy service will guide families through each step and make sure their voices are heard. I am grateful to the families who courageously shared their experiences and helped to shape the service so that others facing the same loss can get the support they need.”
Susan McGregor, whose brother died in prison custody, said: “As well as the heartbreak of losing my brother, we did not know what would happen next and then we were faced with complicated reviews and legal processes, which just added to the grief.
“I am pleased that with the launch of the AdvoCard service, other families in a similar position will be able to access support to help guide them through all this.”
AdvoCard CEO Arlene Astley said: “We support families through what can often be complex processes, including Deaths in Prison Learning and Audit Reviews (DIPLAR), NHS Significant Adverse Event Reviews and Fatal Accident Inquiries.
“Our dedicated advocacy workers offer one-to-one support, helping families understand these processes, to have their voices heard, and to access the information and support they need throughout their journey.’
Have you experienced cancer, or supported someone who has?
We’d love to hear about your experiences of cancer care and your ideas on how services could be improved. Join us for an informal chat in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Tuesday 24 November 2026
10:00am – 12:00pm
Community Renewal: Pennywell, 31 Pennywell Road, EH4 4PJ
£50 voucher for everyone who attends
Refreshments provided
Transport and childcare costs can be covered
Everyone is welcome
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The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has written to hospitals across Scotland to issue an ‘Amber Alert.’
This is due to a national blood shortage. There is specific pressure on group O blood stock levels and a national shortage of blood donors.
All donors, but particularly O negative and O positive donors, are asked to urgently book and fill appointments across Scotland in the coming days, weeks and months.
Appointments are available for booking until the New Year and can be booked on https://www.scotblood.co.uk or by calling 0345 90 90 999.
Got questions about appointment or eligibility to #GiveBlood?
Seven in 10 babies in Scotland are now breastfed after birth, the highest levels since records began, with new figures showing the greatest increases in the most deprived areas of the country.
The 2025-26 Infant Feeding statistics also reveal that breastfeeding is being maintained for longer, with over three quarters of women (77%) continuing to breastfeed by 6-8 weeks, compared to 64% in 2016-17.
To gain more insight into breastfeeding experiences and build on existing support, the Scottish Government has also announced a new infant feeding survey. This will explore factors influencing what a newborn is fed, as well as experiences of support, maternal nutrition and wider social and economic influences on families.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Breastfeeding gives babies the best nutritional start in life, so I welcome the news that so many babies in Scotland are now being breastfed.
“I also want to thank all the healthcare staff and their partner organisations who work tirelessly to help new mums to achieve their breastfeeding goals.
“Our new infant feeding survey will complement these annual statistics, providing valuable insight into the experiences of new mothers across Scotland. It will enable us to continue reducing inequalities and improve outcomes for women, babies and families across the country.
“We will also continue to support new parents with their infant feeding choices as we know breastfeeding may not be possible for every woman.”
UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director, Shereen Fisher said: “The Scottish Infant Feeding Survey is an important opportunity to deepen our understanding of mothers’ experiences of feeding and caring for their babies, the support available to them, and the wider factors that shape their experiences.
“Listening to mothers and families, and understanding where inequalities persist, is essential to improving services and ensuring every family receives compassionate, evidence-based support that responds to their needs.
“We welcome the contribution this survey will make to building the evidence and shaping future support for babies and families across Scotland.”
Thousands of A&E patients across the UK every day, including patients in mental health crisis and children, are being forced to receive care on chairs or trolleys, in waiting rooms or in corridors, according to a new survey conducted by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).
This new survey, the results of which were first published by ITV News yesterday, asked clinical leads – doctors who lead Emergency Departments (EDs) – from 106 hospitals across the four nations of the UK to count the number of patients experiencing corridor care at a given moment in time at the start of November.
Corridor care is where patients are treated in inappropriate spaces in EDs. These spaces include ambulances, corridors, chairs in waiting rooms, converted storerooms, offices or cupboards.
According to the survey, around one in five (19.5%) patients in EDs at the time were experiencing corridor care, and there was at least one patient subject to it in the vast majority (88.7%) of hospitals.
Patients experiencing a mental health crisis were more likely to experience corridor care, with more than a quarter (27.6%) receiving care in inappropriate spaces at the time of the survey. Meanwhile, around one in 30 children (3.5% of paediatric patients) in A&E at the time of the survey were experiencing corridor care.
Dr Ian Higginson, RCEM President, said: “Corridor care is awful and represents a stain on our health service. It is undignified and dangerous for our patients, and it’s a symptom of the wider crisis facing our Emergency Departments.
“Our data today shows that the scale of the problem remains enormous. Health service leaders must pay attention to this and take action. Despite attempts to paint a rosy picture, the harsh reality is that most clinical leads think things are worse than this time last year, and have low confidence going into winter.
“Those of us working on the frontlines are struggling to explain to people why they may have to spend the night on a chair or trolley in a waiting room or busy corridor – despite the pain and fear that they are experiencing. It’s awful.
“It impacts everyone including, as our survey showed, some of the most vulnerable in our society: children, the elderly, and people suffering from a mental health crisis. These patients are not statistics, they are humans who deserve better.”
Corridor care is, predominantly, not driven by too many people attending A&E – but by an inability to get the sickest patients into inpatient hospital beds or alternative services, an issue itself caused by inadequate capacity, hospitals not working effectively, or difficulties discharging patients back home or into social care.
Today, RCEM urges the governments of the UK to take immediate action to reduce overcrowding in Emergency Departments by:
Opening up all available beds now, in hospitals with overcrowded Emergency Departments
Removing recruitment freezes in services contributing to urgent and emergency care
Ensuring that services needed to avoid admission or free up beds are open for longer hours, and seven days a week, with adequate staffing to support this. This includes the Christmas period
In the longer term ensuring that delays to discharge are minimised, and that there are enough hospital beds and community options available for patients who need them
RCEM is further calling on health system leaders to ensure that corridor care in all of its forms is properly measured. The College, earlier this year, raised concerns about the definition of corridor care adopted by NHS England on the grounds that it was too narrow. Our survey shows just how narrow it is.
Dr Higginson added: “For this crisis to be tackled meaningfully, we need to understand its full scale. To do that we must collect the right data and get a true picture on just how many patients – and their families – are affected by corridor care.
“We have been working with politicians in some of the devolved nations ahead of plans to begin formally recording corridor care. We urge all governments to adopt an improved definition of corridor care to ensure that the problem is fully appreciated, and so that there is transparency in discussions.”
Scotland’s first local drug-checking service in Glasgow has opened its doors.
It will allow people and aged 18 or over who are dependent on illegal drugs to submit drugs samples for checking and receive tailored harm-reduction advice based on the results, such as information on the substance, its strength, or contaminants.
The service will also offer an opportunity to engage people in conversations about their health and wellbeing, wider treatment, and care and recovery.
Samples will then be sent to the recently established national testing and research laboratory for drug-testing, hosted by the University of Dundee’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science. This will contribute to wider intelligence about the substances circulating, supporting national early warning systems and public health responses. The service forms part of the drive to reduce drug-related deaths, alongside other interventions to improve health, wellbeing and access to support.
Glasgow’s drug-checking facility will operate from Hunter Street – the same site as the UK’s first official Safer Drug Consumption Facility.
Services in Aberdeen and Dundee will follow in the coming months, with Edinburgh also working towards a site. Those sites, together with the national testing and research laboratory at the University of Dundee, will form a pilot backed by more than £1.7 million of Scottish Government funding.
Drugs Minister Maree Todd, who visited the service on its opening day, said: “I welcome the opening of the site in Glasgow, which will provide vital information on the risks of emerging substances and help people make safer decisions and reduce drug harms.
“Scotland’s illegal drug supply is increasingly unpredictable, including the presence of highly potent synthetic opioids such as nitazenes in a range of substances. This makes faster identification of emerging drug trends more important than ever.
“We have already worked with Glasgow partners to open the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility, which is undoubtedly saving lives. This service will complement that vital harm-reduction work. We must improve the early identification of emerging risks and I look forward to other sites opening and to the national laboratory providing potentially life-saving research and updates.
“We will also continue other efforts to reduce harms and deaths, including widening access to naloxone treatment and residential rehabilitation. Our new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan, backed by record funding, will strengthen surveillance, deepen links between treatment, housing and other services, and target support at the communities most at risk.”
Glasgow City Convener for Homelessness and Addiction Services Councillor Allan Casey said: “We are taking new and radical approaches to how we treat addiction.
“Now the drug-checking service is available, service users will be able to find out more about the drug they are taking and the risks associated with taking it. A very small sample is all that is needed.
“Alongside the testing process, people will receive personalised harm-reduction advice based on the substances identified, helping them make more informed decisions, reduce risks to their health and wellbeing and access wider support where needed.”
Building on the success of our established Rock Up & Ride programme, Scottish Cycling is expanding into Edinburgh through a new partnership with the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) and We Play Together SCIO at the Crags Community Centre.
The Rock Up & Ride project in Edinburgh will help to introduce young people to cycling, not only as a sport and recreational activity, but the programme will also help develop the confidence and practical skills needed to cycle independently.
The ambition is to encourage participants to see cycling as an option for everyday journeys, helping make active travel a more accessible choice within their local community.
The ambition of the programme goes beyond simply providing opportunities to ride. The young people involved in the programme will be supported to build confidence and develop their skills, with opportunities to progress into local cycling clubs or explore volunteering and coaching. The project will also help local staff and volunteers gain experience and qualifications, strengthening the Crags Community Centre’s ability to support cycling in the longer term.
SEStran has been a crucial partner in supporting the project, recognising the role cycling can play in creating healthier, more connected communities. With their support, the project will promote the benefits of active travel, helping young people build the confidence to use a bike both for enjoyment and everyday journeys.
Additional support has been provided through from the Scottish Cycling Tour de France Grand Départ Social Impact Programme. The programme aims to use the profile of the Grand Départ to create lasting opportunities for local communities, with Rock Up & Ride Edinburgh being one example showcasing the impact that the legacy of a major sporting event can have on the local community.
With Project Coordinator Erin Finnigan already in post, Rock Up & Ride in Edinburgh is building on the strong relationships We Play Together SCIO has established with young people in the local area around the Crags Community Centre. Erin will coordinate the programme, bringing opportunities directly to the community and ensuring that activities reflect the interests and needs of local young people.
The programme will introduce participants to different cycling disciplines, including BMX, mountain biking and track cycling, with a particular focus on BMX, utilising the “Skelf” pump track adjacent to the Crags Community Centre.
The programme will be supported by a group of experienced coaches alongside a fleet of bikes and equipment to help remove the cost and barriers that can sometimes prevent young people from getting involved.
Speaking about the impact of the programme Nick Rennie, Chief Executive of Scottish Cycling, said: “We’re delighted to be furthering the reach of our flagship participation programme, Rock Up & Ride, as it expands into Edinburgh ahead of the Tour de France Grand Départ next summer.
“We’re already feeling the buzz that the Tour de France is creating, so this is a wonderful opportunity to use that to get more people on bikes and build their confidence and competence, so that they regularly use cycling as a form of active travel, or a past time.
“The expansion of the programme into the capital wouldn’t be possible without some fantastic partnership working, so I extend a big thank you to SEStran, We Play Together and the Scottish Government for helping bring it to life, and I can’t wait to see it flourish over the coming months and years.”
Sally Pattle, Chair of the SEStran Partnership Board, commented: “We’re delighted to support Scottish Cycling’s Rock Up and Ride initiative in Edinburgh through our People and Place programme.
“The sessions with We Place Together at the Crags Community Centre are giving local young people and their families the chance to build their cycling skills and confidence in a fun and inclusive environment, helping make cycling a more accessible option for leisure and everyday journeys.”
The Rock Up & Ride programme at the Crags Community Centre presents an exciting opportunity to turn the excitement of the Tour de France Grand Départ arriving in Edinburgh next year into a lasting, positive impact for the local community.
By bringing cycling opportunities directly to young people and giving them the support and confidence to get involved, the ambition is to inspire a new generation to discover the joy of cycling and the role it can play in their everyday lives.
An independent public inquiry will examine the scale, extent and prevalence of group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland over the past three decades, Education Secretary Màiri McAllan has told Parliament.
The statutory inquiry, which will formally begin on 11 November, will provide recommendations to strengthen the protection of children. The Chair, Professor Alexis Jay, will report on specific aspects of the findings as they emerge.
Under the terms of reference, published yesterday, the inquiry will:
investigate Scotland’s response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE), covering the period from 1 January 1996 to 11 November 2026
scrutinise any failures by responsible organisations, including any deliberate concealment, alongside actions to address such failures
explore the characteristics of perpetrators so risk factors can be better understood and stronger protections developed
identify what changes are needed to strengthen practice, policy and, where required, legislation to protect children
avoid unnecessary duplication of matters already examined elsewhere, including by the independent Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
The Education Secretary also confirmed that a pilot of the Truth Project will launch this month ahead of a national rollout next year, offering survivors the opportunity to share their experiences and contribute directly to the inquiry.
Ms McAllan said: “Sexual abuse and exploitation are among the most serious harms that can be inflicted on a child. Our responsibility is to ensure that children are protected, perpetrators are pursued and survivors are listened to, supported and believed.
“This inquiry will undertake a thorough examination of Scotland’s response to group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation. Its purpose is not only to understand what has happened, but to ensure it cannot happen again. To ensure accountability is strengthened, and that we do everything possible to better protect children and young people in the future.
“However, we are not waiting for the inquiry to conclude before acting – due to the pressing nature of the issue work is already underway to strengthen Scotland’s collective response to child sexual abuse and exploitation, including by accepting the recommendations from our National Review and providing additional funding for Police Scotland’s Operation Decerno.
“I want survivors to know that your voice will be heard. This inquiry will investigate what you went through, without fear or favour, and action will be taken as a result. And to those who would seek to perpetrate harm to our children in Scotland, I say directly that there will be nowhere to hide from justice.”
Professor Alexis Jay said: “I welcome today’s announcement of the Inquiry’s terms of reference. This marks the beginning of our work, and I am clear that the focus of the Inquiry will be on making practical recommendations that improve policy, practice and, where necessary, legislation to better protect children in Scotland.”
A life-changing partnership between Age UK, Age Cymru, Age Scotland and Britain’s gas network companies is being extended to help more older people. The £1.7m partnership builds on the success of a previous nationwide initiative and has been co-designed by the organisations using insight and learning gathered from older people and frontline advisers. Its aim is to provide meaningful, practical and trusted support to older people across England, Scotland and Wales.
Led by SGN and funded by the organisation as well as Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities, the programme extends their existing partnerships for a further two years and will run until March 2028 to help even more older people stay safe, warm and independent at home.
Almost 118,000 older households across Britain have already received personalised energy support thanks to the partnership. Thousands more benefitted from online information, benefits checks and practical guidance to help them manage energy costs and stay safe at home.
The programme has also strengthened the skills and expertise of advice teams across the Age UK, Age Cymru and Age Scotland networks. The partnership has enabled the charities to support thousands of vulnerable households through immediate practical assistance, including providing heat packs, longer-term energy advice, safety information and support to manage energy bills.
The enhanced knowledge developed through the programme continues to help advisers identify vulnerable customers and connect them with available support.
In one case, a 90-year-old man living alone had received a free carbon monoxide alarm through an Age Scotland partnership programme. When the alarm began flashing and beeping, he was unsure what the warning meant or what he should do.
While speaking with the man, an adviser recognised he was struggling to understand the vital safety advice and may not have been able to take the necessary action independently.
Concerned for his safety, the adviser contacted SGN directly, and an engineer was at the man’s home within an hour. While the carbon monoxide detector itself was found to be faulty, the engineer also discovered a gas leak in the property, allowing the issue to be identified and resolved before it could cause serious harm.
Pippa Lock, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy at Age UK, said: “Older people are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of fuel poverty, often spending more time at home and needing to use more energy to maintain their health and wellbeing.
“Through the renewed partnership, they will be able to access specialist support designed around their specific needs.”
Through the next phase of the partnership, older people will continue to receive support with energy-related concerns and be connected to specialist services where needed by the national Age UK, Age Scotland and Age Cymru advice lines.
It will also provide trusted, accessible information tailored specifically for older people, alongside a learning-led and nation-responsive approach that reflects local needs and challenges.
Margaret Hamilton, Community Partnership Manager at SGN, said: “The Gas Distribution Networks and Age UK, Age Cymru and Age Scotland charities are extending our commitment to working together to ensure older people can access trusted advice, practical support and potentially life-saving interventions, helping them live safely, confidently and independently in their own homes for longer.”
Decreased sunlight can also increase anxiety and confusion for someone living with dementia but listening to some familiar tunes can help create a feeling of calm.
Playing personally meaningful music, or songs that usually get you up dancing can spark joy, get you dancing and keep you or the person you are caring for active.
Got questions about appointment or eligibility to 
